Bearing lubrication system

Abstract

A bearing lubrication system for providing supplemental lubrication to a bearing mounted within a bearing housing may include a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the pump is fluidically connected to a lubricating fluid sump, whereas the outlet of the pump is fluidically connected to the bearing. A pump control system operatively connected to the pump operates the pump on an intermittent basis to provide a controlled amount of lubricating fluid to the bearing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A machine system, comprising:
 a rotatable shaft; 
 a housing having an opening therein, said housing defining a lubricating fluid sump therein; 
 a bearing positioned within the opening in said housing, said bearing being sized to receive said rotatable shaft, lubricating fluid from said bearing draining into the lubricating fluid sump defined by said housing; 
 a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said pump being fluidically connected to the lubricating fluid sump defined by said housing, the outlet of said pump being operatively associated with said bearing so that lubricating fluid from said pump is provided to said bearing; 
 a pump control system operatively connected to said pump, said pump control system operating said pump in response to a lubrication signal to provide a controlled amount of lubricating fluid to said bearing; and 
 a machine control system operatively associated with said shaft and said pump control system, said machine control system controlling rotation of said shaft in said bearing, said machine control system producing the lubrication signal for said pump control system during a start-up sequence and operating said pump in response to the lubrication signal to provide the controlled amount of lubricating fluid to said bearing before said machine control system initiates rotation of said shaft in said bearing. 
 
     
     
       2. The machine system of  claim 1 , wherein said pump control system produces an interlock signal, said machine control system being responsive to the interlock signal to initiate rotation of said shaft in said bearing after the controlled amount of lubrication fluid has been provided to said bearing. 
     
     
       3. The machine system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow switch fluidically connected to the outlet end of said pump and to said pump control system, said pump control system producing the interlock signal based on a sensed state of said flow switch. 
     
     
       4. The machine system of  claim 1 , further comprising a timer operatively associated with said pump control system, said pump control system operating said pump to provide the controlled amount of lubrication fluid to said bearing in response to signals from said timer. 
     
     
       5. The machine system of  claim 4 , wherein said timer is adjustable to vary the controlled amount of lubrication fluid provided to said bearing.